PARIS RESPONSE, SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR NATO

UNCLAS PARIS 001511 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UP ETTC MARR MOPS PREL NATO SUBJECT: PARIS RESPONSE, SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR NATO TRUST FUND TO DESTROY UKRAINIAN MUNITIONS, SA/LW, MANPADS REF: STATE 32708 On February 25 reftel points were delivered to the MFA office for Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament and to the MFA regional office responsible for Russia and the Former Soviet Space. On March 7 poloff spoke with Jean-Francois Guillaume, MFA Action Officer for SA/LW who said that France recognizes the urgent need to diminish the massive stockpiles of SA/LW that exist in Ukraine. He added that he was sure a French delegate would attend the March 11 ad hoc Working Group meeting in Brussels though he did not know who the delegate would be. Guillaume said that France's main concern is with aging munitions, which he said pose the greatest threat among Ukraine's SA/LW stockpiles, and that France will be working within the context of the European Common Action Plan to put in place projects aimed at destroying munitions stockpiles. He said that France is very much in favor of taking action and will coordinate with its European partners adding that he could not yet predict the amount of aid that will be set aside for SA/LW destruction. Leach